Singaporean retailers will have to keep tobacco products out of sight from early next year. - The Straits Times/ANN
SINGAPORE: From early next year, retailers here will have to keep tobacco products out of sight, following amendments to the law approved in the island nation's parliament on Monday.
The ban on the display of such products is intended to prevent impulse buys, especially among young people who have not yet picked up smoking.
Tighter rules on online tobacco ads were also introduced, banning advertisements that come from Singapore even if they are not targeted at Singaporeans.
"With the expansion of online access, there is increasing use of the Internet for tobacco advertising and commerce," said Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor in moving the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) (Amendment) Bill.
Retailers will have to keep tobacco products out of sight by 2017 in a bid to deter people from picking up the habit and help smokers to quit.
"As part of the global public health community, Singapore should ensure that our existing prohibitions on tobacco advertising and promotion are comprehensive, and cover online advertising and promotion originating from Singapore," she added.
MPs welcomed the new anti-smoking measures, although several - such as Jurong GRC MP Tan Wu Meng - pressed for even stricter measures to snuff out smoking.
These include raising the minimum legal age from 18, as well as making smoking illegal for all those born after a certain year. - The Straits Times/Asia News Network
